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Ok, that sounds a bit pompous. But to me, it's true.
I was at Guitar Center the other day selling a vintage amp. They had to go through a whole process for that, which gave me time to hang around.

So I drift over to the acoustic guitar room and see what I can find.
It didn't matter what I picked up - Gibson, Martin, whatever.
My Carvin acoustic/electric just seems far superior - in feel and sound - at a fraction of the price of these others.

True, I didn't test drive a $10K Martin. But I really don't think it would matter.

Eh, this probably seems like an advertisement. But it's the way I see it.

Perhaps some of you have a guitar like this - it's just the one for you.
Any other Carvin players in the house?

I don't have any Carvin acoustics, just a bass and a strat clone. I don't play bass so it rarely gets used but the strat is my favorite strat by a long shot. If it's not my number one overall guitar, it's in the top two.
So, yes, Carvin fan here.

Good for you! It's about what works for you at the end of the day and if it means you aren't constantly spending money on mew stuff then all the better.

My only acoustic for 18 years or so was an Ovation. People used to turn their noses up at it. I knew one guy who would tell me how crappy my guitar was because it wasn't all wood but then refused to even play it and see for himself. I wish I still had it around as I wonder if it would still sound good to me now.

I drive by the factory here in SD about 4 times a week. The Acoustics were made for them by someone in the far east, but I remember the quality being very high. Like CG I like much of what they make, just not well enough to purchase it.
R

Being a now retired retail music store owner (among other things), we were loath to like Carvin because they only sold their products direct and never, ever through stores...so they were an easy product to not like as they were direct competition to whatever line it was we were selling. That said, they have great products and must say I've seen few guitars or amps from Carvin that I didn't like.

Cant say anything about Carving but no other Martin compares to my 00015M Custom at the moment. It fit my fingers, lap and ears. Resonant, snappy, gnarly and alive. Like Tommy Emmanuel onstage. And yes, I've tried 10 grand Martins. I cant see why a Carvin would not be a favourite guitar of yours.

If your Carvin acoustic is a full size one, it was made in Korea, then fully set up by Carvin here in the USA. Those are generally regarded as very good guitars.

I had a Carvin USA made AC375 which is not a full size body, but is made to be plugged in - it sounded excellent for that purpose, and the neck was very comfortable (with 1.75" nut which I love). I still have a Carvin USA made CL450, which is a nylon string sister to the AC375 - also like it very much; sounds great plugged in and the neck is 1 7/8" at the nut (I believe), with perfect action (for a nylon string - which has to be a little higher than a steel string.

Good stuff from Carvin. Too bad the resale value is so bad (at least in this economy).

If your Carvin, Yamaha, Epi, Alvarez, etc guitar sounds best to you then it is. No matter what it costs, it's all about the tone and feel that makes the instrument.

For me personally my 2006 Martin HD 28 is the best acoustic I have ever owned. Beautiful tone. Maybe I got one of the good ones. In fact it beat the D-45 that and had on loan for a week at my house comparing it with my HD 28. Not a huge difference but my HD did sound stronger and with more bottom end.

Wouldn't trade it for anything.And I have owned or played several acoustic guitars....J-200, handmade and regular production Yamaha etc. I'm a happy camper.

I have an older Carvin C-980 Spruce and rosewood jumbo cutaway with Fishman electronics. All Korean Carvin acoustics were built by Cort and if you compare the Cort versions to Carvins with the exception of the headstock overlays they are identical. They were shipped back to San Diego for the final setup and mine has always played great. In terms of 'sound' mine always seemed a bit dark to me unplugged, but I use Elixir 80-20 Bronze strings (mediums) and it brightened it up. Plugged in it has a bit of piezo quack but most of that can be dialed out.

As my other acoustic is a Martin D-35 I would say the Martin sounds richer but then it has no electronics. When I play out, which isn't often, the Carvin gets the call and sounds great through a PA.

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